Conroe police sergeant retires after 3 decades of service to city

Published 6:05 pm, Thursday, January 26, 2012

After 33 years with the Conroe Police Department, Sgt. Grange McCreary is retiring to get out from behind his desk and spend time with his grandchildren.

After 33 years with the Conroe Police Department, Sgt. Grange McCreary is retiring to get out from behind his desk and spend time with his grandchildren.

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric S. Swist

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Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary is congratulated by colleagues and friends during a retirement party Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33 years with the department.

Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary is congratulated by colleagues and friends during a retirement party Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33 years with the department.

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric S. Swist

Image 3 of 5

Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary is congratulated by colleagues and friends during a retirement party Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33-years with the department.

Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary is congratulated by colleagues and friends during a retirement party Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33-years with the department.

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric S. Swist

Image 4 of 5

Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary smiles as he holds his wife's hand during a retirement party Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33-years with the department.

Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary smiles as he holds his wife's hand during a retirement party Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33-years with the department.

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric S. Swist

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Friends and colleagues attend a retirement party for Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary on Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33 years with the department.

Friends and colleagues attend a retirement party for Conroe Police Department Sgt. Grange McCreary on Thursday at the Conroe Tower. McCreary is retiring after 33 years with the department.

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric S. Swist

Conroe police sergeant retires after 3 decades of service to city

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A man who “can’t imagine doing anything else” other than serving the public now will relax and have fun.

Sgt. Grange McCreary, who served 33 years with the Conroe Police Department, officially retired Thursday as he wrapped up a career that included working in both the department’s patrol and narcotics divisions and earning a rank of sergeant in both areas.

McCreary was the first Conroe motorcycle officer in the 1980s, but it was cracking down on narcotics he enjoyed most, he said, and he’s glad to retire as the sergeant in charge of the narcotics task force.

“It was an honor to experience that many different aspects of law enforcement,” he said. “A lot of officers spend most of their career working patrol, so I was lucky I got to experience a lot more.”

Not having to wear a uniform while working with the narcotics task force was one of his favorite aspects of the job, he said. But it was the diversity of the work that held his interest.

“You do investigations for everything from street dealers to prostitution,” he said. “It’s never the same thing every day. It’s always different, that’s why I enjoyed it.”

After moving to Conroe at age 23, McCreary essentially “grew up” in the city, settling down by marrying and raising two children.

His father was a police officer, and McCreary followed his example, he said, which continues into the next generation. One of his sons is in the U.S. Marines and his other one is a Conroe police officer.

McCreary’s days now will be filled with yard work and hugs as he plans to build a new fence for his property, complete household projects he’s put off too long and spend quality time with his two grandchildren.

But his memories as a cop - both good and bad - will stay with him.

The difficult things police encounter on the job daily - such as watching his co-workers get injured or killed on the job - have caused McCreary to discourage his children from taking after him and pursuing law enforcement as career.

But serving his community has been a job he’s loved.

“It’s not an easy life,” he said. “You don’t make a lot of money, you work a lot of long hours, but it’s in your blood.”